A TROUBLED health care provider is pulling out of Inverclyde - with around 80 vulnerable residents told they now need to find support elsewhere.

National care company Allied Healthcare, who have hit financial difficulties, have now cancelled all contracts following a warning from care regulators.

Inverclyde Council has stepped in to put alternative plans in place for all those affected and say they hope to avoid any major disruptions to care.

Allied Healthcare had a £900,000 contract with Inverclyde to provide care to people, including 41-year-old Bryan Purdue, pictured, who suffers from muscular dystrophy.

He said: "It is obviously a very anxious time. I am very happy with the care team I have, they are wonderful.

"I received a letter from Allied Healthcare to tell me they would no longer provide my care.

"But the council have been very supportive. They are hoping to transfer my carers and continue the same level of support, but of course I am anxious as I wait to see what happens.

"It is worrying."

Bryan is one of dozens of people locally who relied on Allied Healthcare, based in Terrace Road, Greenock.

The health care providers work across the UK but earlier this month announced plans to sell or transfer all their contracts after revealing earlier this year that they were facing financial difficulties.

The care regulator in England, the Quality Care Commission, issued a warning in November that Allied only had weeks of credit left.

The firm is one of a number of providers who tender in Inverclyde.

At a recent policy and resources meeting, council leader Stephen McCabe acknowledge that there was an increasing number of health care providers struggling in the current climate.

Inverclyde Council today confirmed that they have been monitoring the situation.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of the situation and are linking with Scottish Government and COSLA who are in discussions with the providers Allied Healthcare.

"We are expecting an update from these discussions and are in contact with service users and are hopeful of minimal changes to care provision.”